The Town of Williamston is looking
into whether it is required to have public input in determining
whether to keep a $112,000 windfall resulting from
property reassessment in Anderson County this year.

Williamston Mayor Phillip Clardy
said the town is looking into the legalities of the State concerning
rollback millage but stated the towns position is that it has
done nothing wrong by not having a public hearing or vote on the matter.

We are looking into what
responsibilities municipalities are subject to concerning budget
ordinances, Clardy said.

Clardy said that based on legal
advice given by town attorney Richard Thompson and past records on
how reassessment was handled, there has been no red flag concerning
how the town has handled the windfall/rollback situation for 2003.

Rollback millage is defined as the
millage rate needed to fund the prior years property tax
revenue actually collected in the prior year. The rate is computed by
dividing the total property tax collections for the year prior to
reassessment by the new reassessment tax base.

Williamston Town Council has the
option of keeping the windfall or granting a rollback to
taxpayers on the 2003 tax bill, but have decided to keep the revenue,
opting to approve a rollback on the 2004 tax notices.

Mayor Phillip Clardy stated
in the November meeting of Council and at a November budget meeting
that he planned to present Council with a draft budget reflecting the
current millage assessment and a second draft budget with a rollback millage.

During the Dec. 1 meeting of
Council, Clardy presented Council members with the option of
approving a $2.4 million budget or a $2.29 million budget for 2004.

The $2.4 million budget is based
on the current tax rate of 120 mills. The $2.29 million budget is
based on a rollback to 106 mills.

Council approved first reading on
the $2.29 million budget, which will rollback the tax millage on next
years taxes, yet there has been no official action taken by
council on what to do with the reassessment windfall for 2003.

As it stands, the town will
receive the windfall of approximately $112,000, which is not included
in either the 2003 or 2004 budget.

Councilmembers Cecil Cothran, Wade
Pepper and David Harvell were all unsure whether the approved budget
included the $112,000 windfall revenues the town will
receive from the 2003 taxes.

Clardy told The Journal that
the 2004 budget which council approved is based on 106 mills and it
does not include the expected windfall revenue of $112,000 even
though the towns tax bills for 2003 will bring in the revenues
between now and January.

Clardy said it was not included on
the 2003 budget because there was no way of knowing the effect of
reassessment when the budget was approved in December of last year.

He also said it was not
included in the budget he presented to Council Dec. 1
because there is a possibility that it may have to be returned to taxpayers.

Clardy said the town attorney and
auditors are looking into the situation and the revenue will not be
included in the budget, until we can determine whether to use
it, Clardy said.

Clardy said he has asked the
accountant and auditor to make recommendations on the matter.

Council may be asked to approve an
amended budget in coming months, Clardy said.

He said he is also considering
changing the towns operations from a calendar year to a fiscal
year, which would run June to May instead of January to December.

It has been the topic of
discussion with auditors, Clardy said.

Clardy said that having the
town on a calendar year has caused problems with grants ond other
situations because the state, county and most other municipalities
operate on the fiscal year.

I have been told that you
dont see that anymore, because it creates problems,
Clardy said concering the town calendar year operations.

We are looking into what we
have to do to change this, the consequences or repurcussion, he
said. I dont think it would be tremendous other than
changing over the books.

Clardy said he will have the town
auditor and attorney available at a meeting to answer any questions
council or the public may have on the budget process.

The 102 (120)?? millage rate under
the 2003 budget will result in revenues of $994,000 for 2003.
Reducing the millage rate to 106 mills will reduce property tax
revenues for the town to $881,202, according to Clardy.

In the 2003 budget, Mayor
Clardy projected property taxes to amount to $678,122.

The 2004 budget is based on actual
revenues and expenditures from 2003 and gives a better picture of the
towns operations than his previous budgets, according to Clardy.

The 2004 budget shows projected
revenues of $2,291,202 with expenses of $2,291,202.

With the windfall, property tax
revenues for the town will be approximately $112,000 more than the
budget reflects.

The approved budget for 2004
includes an extension on a $100,000 tax anticipation note from last
year that was due in October.

The ordinance also authorizes the
mayor to borrow up to $500,000 in tax anticipation notes, with
Council approval, if the need arises.

Second reading on the 2004 budget
will be held by Town Council on Thursday, Dec. 11 at noon.

Williamston
budget shows $150,000 increase for 2004

Williamston Town Council approved
first reading on a $2.29 million general fund budget and a $1.475
million enterprise fund budget during their regular meeting Dec. 1.

The 2004 General Fund budget
presented by Williamston Mayor Phillip Clardy shows anticipated
expenditures of $2,292,202 to income of $2,292,202, an overall
increase of $149,762 over 2003.

Salaries amounted to the largest
portion of the general fund budget, accounting for $1,206,000,
up from $1,112,617.50 in 2003.

Administrative salaries amounted
to $244,000, up from $181,840. Payroll taxes are $21,000; retirement,
$13,500; health insurance, $36,000; vehicle expense $520, down from
$1,000; repairs and maintenance $11,000, supplies and expense
$38,000, down from $50,000; uniforms $250 and utilities $35,000, up
from $25,000.

Street department expenses include
salaries of $235,000, up from $207,688; payroll taxes $20,000,
retirement, $15,000, health insurance $27,000, vehicle $15,000, up
from $10,000; repairs and maintenance $5,000, supplies and expense
$20,000,up from $15,000; uniforms $6,500, down from $8,000;utilities
$55,000, up from $40,000 and solid waste fees of $20,000.

The Parks and Recreation budget
includes: salaries of $73,000, up from $65,626; payroll taxes $6,500;
retirement $4,000; health insurance, $8,000; vehicles, $6,000;
repairs and maintenance $2,000, down from $7,000; supplies and
expense $10,000; uniforms $2,000, up from $1,000; utilities
$14,000, down from $15,000; Spring Water Festival $7,000, up from
$5,000; Christmas Park $3,000; Little league $15,000, up from
$14,000; parades $2,000, up from $800; July 4th celebration $4,000.
Department total of $156,500.

Fire Department budget includes
salaries $24,000, up from $21,880; truck payment $28,148.14; vehicles
$4,500; repairs and maintenance $1,509, supplies and expense $10,000,
down from $15,000; uniforms $3,116, down from $4,000 and utilities of
$5,120, up from $3,000, for a department total of $76,395.

Total retirement is $87,500, down
from $92,027 for 2003.

Health insurance premiums amount
to $132,000, down from $159,669 in 2003.

Utilities for all departments is
$122,120, up from $103,000 in 2003.

The town budgeted $128,000 for
supplies and expense, up from $80,000; $34,500 for repairs and
maintenance (all departments).

The budget includes $36,020 for
vehicles, down from $51,000 for 2003.

Professional and contract fees
were increased to $30,000, up from $17,000.

Total expenditures are budgeted at
$2,291,202, an increase from $2,222,158.10 last year.

Income will come from expected
property taxes of $881,202 ($994,000) up from $624,715.60 budget for 2003.

State fund revenue is expected to
be $117,000, other grants $2,000, motor vehicle taxes, $174,000, up
from $143,000.

Payments in lieu of taxes are
$6,000, down from $92,592; homestead exemptions $90,000; merchants
inventory tax $7,000; manufacturing exemptions $93,000; business
license, $40,000, MASC insurance $168,000, up from $148,000 in 2003;
franchise fees $304,000; MASC telecommunications, $6,000; police
fines are expected to be $247,500, down from $340,000. SRO high
school and middle school officers (from School District 1) $35,500
and $35,500.

Little league fees are expected to
bring in $7,000, up from $3,000; park fees, $8,000; and
Christmas/Spring Water festival, $13,000, up from $9,000.

Anticipated revenue for the
enterprise fund includes water and sewer billing of $1,357,647; tap
fees, $40,000; reconnect fees $5,000; other revenue of $65,000;
permit and DHEC fees of $7,000, for a total of $1,474,647, up from
$1,368,694.36 for 2003.

Expenditures for the water and
sewer departments are also expected to be $1,474,647.

Second reading on the budget will
be held at at noon Dec. 11 at the Williamston Municipal Center.

Pelzer
completes legal agreement on sewer project

Releasing the best news
weve had in six or eight months, Pelzer Mayor Page
Henderson announced that the towns legal services agreement on
the joint sewer project with West Pelzer through Rural Development
has been approved.

The paperwork on the project for
the Town of West Pelzer is still in process since documents had to be
revised due to a change in mayors according to Pelzer Municipal Clerk
Skip Watkins.

The $1.8 million project includes
only $150,000 to $200,000 for work on the sewer lines so additional
funds will have to be located to cover the cost of replacing sewer
lines or to develop new technology according to Henderson. New
technology could possibly involve a pump at every house to handle
sewage at a meter. Henderson estimated the total cost of sewer line
work to be approximately $5.667 million.

Henderson said that he is talking
with County Administrator Joey Preston and Representative Gresham
Barrett about locating grant money to fund the sewer line project.
According to Henderson, county engineering consultants Jim Longshore
and Dewey Pearson will prepare information to give to Barrett to
assist in getting funding.

Henderson reported that County
Transportation Director Holt Hopkins came out to look at the drainage
problem in the Pelzer Park. Henderson said that the county will add
to the low-lying area in the park at no charge to the town so that
the water will drain properly.

The county also agreed to provide
the labor to install a gate near the unused water tower to reduce
traffic and vandalism in the park. The town will purchase all the
material for the project which will limit access to the park to the
Highway 20 entrance only.

Henderson also reported that he
had written letters to Joey Preston, Rusty Burns, and Cindy Wilson
about improvements on the Pelzer gymnasium. Assistant County
Administrator Michael Cunningham is turning the request over to
Appalachian Council of Governments (ACOG) which will direct the
request to Parks, Recreation and Tourism.

Henderson estimated $4,470 to
upgrade and install a new sprinkler system and $13,941 to install a
new roof on the gym. Henderson also reported little success in
getting bids from companies on repairing termite damage, replacing
restrooms, repairing water damage, and installing a forced-air
heating system to the gym which he described as a landmark for
this part of the county.

Henderson also reported little
success in getting CSX to remove 300 to 400 buckets of
spikes at a railroad crossing. According to Henderson, CSX
states that a magnet unit is required to remove the buckets and that
the project is currently a low priority item.

The next step in the process of an
agreement with West Pelzer to provide police protection to Pelzer
would be for the mayors and a town council representative from each
town to meet with Town Attorney Jimmy King according to Henderson.
Henderson requested that Steve McGregor act as the representative
from the Pelzer Town Council in the negotiations.

The council appointed the
following members to the Municipal Election Commission: Duncan Adams,
2 year term; Jackie Vaughn, 4 year term; Donna Ide, 6 year term and chairman.

Watkins reported that King had
consulted with the governors legal assistant about the new
election. The election is tentatively scheduled for the first Tuesday
in March with voter registration remaining the same as November 2003.

West
Pelzer council approves 30-day trial on new sewer product

The Town of West Pelzer may have a
solution to some or all of its sewer problems if a new product
performs as expected.

Town officials voted unanimously
to pursue a 30-day trial test with Organic Products of South Carolina
after company representatives presented information at Tuesday
nights council meeting.

Organic Products consultant Terry
Henson explained that the company is working to reduce solids for
waste water treatment plants. Henson said the company could guarantee
a 20% to 40% reduction in sludge in 30 days for the towns system.

Senior Vice-President Bruce
Watford of Organic Products even proposed that with use of the
companys product the town would not have to hook on to the
Western Carolina line.

Watford explained that the
all-natural botanical product used by the company is developed from
new technology designed to break down organic matter without
using traditional methods of dumping large amounts of foreign
bacteria into a system.

According to company literature,
the product called Bio Miracle acts to strengthen and build up
present bacteria allowing it to become resistant to harsh conditions.
This process promotes exceptional growth of the existing bacteria
resulting in a rapid consumption of organic solids.

Watford proposed that his company
collect samples to determine what formulation the town needs and
supervise a 30-day use of the product. The decision to continue use
of the product would be on a month-to-month basis with no contracts
involved according to Watford.

Mayor Peggy Paxton asked about
handling the current Department of Health and Environmental Control
(DHEC) consent order. Watford explained that the order could be
changed and that his company would work with DHEC on the towns situation.

In other business, Paxton
discussed using a Community Development Block Grant for new water
lines. According to Paxton, the town could receive a maximum of
$500,000 if the town could match 10% of the grant money.

According Paxton, County Council
Representative Cindy Wilson, Senator Billy ODell and
Representative Gresham Barrett had all promised to assist in getting
the matching funds. The council voted unanimously to pursue the grant
through Rusty Burns.

Paxton also reported that
$4,816.75 in fines had been collected beginning in November until the
present time. Old fines from bench warrants amounting to $1,841 was
also collected according to Paxton.

Paxton also announced that the
town had reached an agreement with John Parales, a state constable.
Parales, 49, lives on Hoyt Street and will work with the current
police officers at no charge to the town until he receives training.
He will attend the police academy in January and begin work with the
police force when he completes the course of study at the academy,
Paxton announced.

Councilman Joe Turner made a
motion to purchase state-of-the-art bullet-proof vests for the
towns police officers. Turners motion received unanimous
council approval.

Council member Maida Kelly
mentioned that she had heard many comments from citizens about the
work that the county had done around the town. According to Kelly,
trimming and cleanup work was done by the county in the following
areas: Dendy Street, Stephanie Drive, Mill Street, Spring Street,
Depot Road, Burkett Street, Smith Street, Arthur Davis Circle, and
Railroad Boulevard.

Teacher
Leona Parker honored on 80th birthday

Leona Parker, a longtime
Williamston resident and school teacher, was honored Dec. 2 with a
party celebrating her 80th birthday at the Williamston Municipal Center.

A crowd of approximately 50
friends and well wishers gathered for the event which included
signing red apple Christmas ornaments for a Miss Parker
Christmas tree that was on display and signing special cards
for her.

Speakers on the program included
Williamston Mayor Phillip Clardy, former student and lifelong friend
Doris Cole and longtime friend and fellow church member, Bill Pascoe.

Pascoes remarks included:

I have been asked to make a
few remarks about our honored birthday lady and I have to dig deeply
in my faulty memory to remember back in 1939 when Leona appeared on
the scene with her mother and dad, John Bill and Katherine. They
lived on the Parker Place on Beaverdam Rd. and Mr. Wayne farmed and
packed fruit in Florida, Pascoe said.

According to Pascoe, Parker
entered the new school in Williamston in 1939, which was built at the
present site, after the Williamston Female College was removed.

She graduated in 1941 from high
school and entered Montreat College, graduating in 1943.

Parker began teaching 3rd and 4th
grades at Cedar Grove after graduating college.

She taught 1st and 2nd grade
for three years at Gossett School and then went to the old
Williamston High School, teaching 3rd and 4th grade.

She taught until her retirement in
1978, resulting in a teaching career covering 33 years.

During the summers from 1943 to
1955, Parker went to summer school at Furman University and received
her B.A. degree in 1955.

She substituted until 2000, when
she began volunteering. At present, her usual volunteer work is with
first graders at Spearman Elementary on Fridays.

She is also active in the
Williamston Presbyterian Church, where she has played piano for the
Sunday School class since about 1940, according to Pascoe.

She played the organ for church
services for many years and was also a member of the choir.

According to Pascoe, Parker made a
profession of faith at a church in Lake Hamilton Fla. when she was 10
years old. She has been a member of the Williamston Presbyterian
Church since 1939 and taught Sunday School for 40 years.

Parker also spends many hours in
prayer and visiting shut-ins and sick persons.

She is in contact with many
each week and has furnished many with the famous Russian tea and
pound cakes, Pascoe said.

Parker has been active in the
Sunshine Club program which provides a meal and program monthly for
seniors at the church.

Leona has always given
liberally of her means as well as her time to her church and
community for some 64 years which is an enviable record, Pascoe
said. It is our hope and prayer that she uses this 80th
birthday as a stepping stone to more years of unselfish service
filled with personal contentment.